Researchers propose innovative face-lifting technique for bald men

Reviewed by James Ives, M.Psych. (Editor)Dec 27 2019

Whether they choose the look, or genetics chooses it for them, some guys are embracing baldness. However, without a hairline, bald men who desire a facelift have a difficult time hiding their scars, which has always presented a challenge to plastic surgeons.

Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveal that more than 12,000 men had facelift surgery in 2018: an increase of three percent from the previous year. A new study in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery^®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), proposes that a new shorter incision carried just a little above the top of the ear may be the solution.

In the conventional technique, the incision proceeds upward along the temple, in a location that's easily hidden behind the hairline. But that's not an option for many men, particularly those with hair loss. According to the American Hair Loss Association, two-thirds of men experience some degree of hair loss by age 35. By the age of 50, about 85 percent of men have significantly thinner hair.

Rather than the traditional linear scar, the new incision changes direction at two or more points, following the shape of the front of the ear. Although somewhat shorter than the conventional incision, it still allows access to the deeper tissue layers for an effective, long-lasting facelift. While the shorter incision involves some excess skin, the technique includes steps for handling this problem.

The incision is strategically placed so that the outline of the ear helps to camouflage the scar, according to the report by Michele Pascali, MD, PhD, of University of Rome Tor Vergata, and colleagues. "Our proposed approach has proven to be reliably effective in obtaining virtually invisible scars and helps to meet the challenges of face-lifting in men who are bald," Dr. Pascali comments.

Dr. Pascali and colleagues evaluated the outcomes of 68 bald men (average age 55 years) who underwent a facelift procedure using the short-scar technique. At least one year after surgery, the men completed a questionnaire assessing their perceived results and satisfaction. The study also included evaluation of before-and-after photographs by a three-member jury. Both assessments focused on the appearance, quality and extent of scars.

Outcomes were consistently good, as rated by both the patients and experts. The men's average rating was 8.6 (out of 10) for satisfaction with overall facial appearance and 7.9 for satisfaction with scars. "None of the patients expressed regret about choosing to undergo this type of surgery," the researchers write.

That was consistent with the panel of experts, whose ratings of scar quality were between 8 and 10 for all patients but one. None of the patients had major complications; three later underwent a minor procedure to improve the final scar quality.

As a growing number of men express interest in facelift surgery, "Baldness unquestionably represents a challenge," Dr. Pascali and coauthors write. They note that their paper is the first to focus on the unique challenges of performing facelifts on bald men.

They believe their technique also helps meet other requirements of men seeking facelift surgery, including their demand for the shortest possible recovery time. The short-scar technique "makes it possible to obtain excellent results that meet the expectations of bald male patients."

The article reflects the specialty's commitment to address the unique aspects of plastic surgery in men. Of more than 120,000 facelift procedures performed in 2018, about ten percent were on men, according to ASPS statistics.